Tenter link



'cfc. l5, 1935. F. A. LANE 2,017,315

TENTER LINK Filed July 28, 1932 INVENTOR. fia/ af/J.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TENTER LINKApplication'July 28, 1932, Serial N0. 625,329

This invention relates to an improved construction of link for the chainof a tentering machine, and one of the objects of this invention is toprovide a simple and eifective means for releasably retaining v theswinging jaw, which moves toward the fixed jaw to grip the work, in openposition and out of engagement with the iiXed jaw during its travel backto position for again gripping the cloth passing through the machine.

Another object of this invention is the provision of interengagingportions carried wholly by the iixed jaw and the movable jaw andindependent of the usual feeler member for holding the movable jaw outof engagement with the xed jaw while the link is not functioning to gripthe work.

Y Another object of the invention is the provision of a constructionhaving a detent pawl which will move by gravity to temporarily retainthe swinging jaw in open position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an abutment on theoverhanging back portion of the xed jaw and a detent pawl carried by theswinging jaw to swing by gravity and engage this abutment and maintainthe swinging jaw in open position, all independent of the feeler orcontrol member which is operated by engagement with the cloth.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of anattachment which may be added to the link without materially changingthe construction thereof which will function to maintain the movable jawopen during a desired portion of its travel.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tenter link looking at the backthereof.

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through the link showing the gate orswinging jaw as held in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view simiiar to Fig. 2 showing the swinging jaw in closed orgripping position with apiece of fabric fragmentally shown therein.

Y Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the gate with the attachment formounting the pawl secured in position thereon.

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail View of the attachment for mounting thepawl.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing a modied construction of link withthe abutment and pawl positioned at one side oi the center of the link.

(Cl. 2li-62) Fig. 'l is a fragmental detail showing the notch in theoverhanging portion of Fig. 6.

It is found in the practical operation of the standard tenter clip orlink, that during the return travel of the chain when the swinging jaw 5of the clip is not in engagement with the work, it will usually swingforwardly and rest upon the face of the xed jaw, and that the vibrationof the parts during thisreturn travel causes a detrimental wearingaction of the gripping surfaces 10` of these two jaws.' I have shown onesimple and effective means for preventing this wearing action, which isarranged to act upon the swinging jaw upon being moved from operative toinoperative position to retain this jaw out of contact with 15 the fixedjaw during the time the clip is not working and to retain the jaw inthat position until again called upon to function; and the following isa detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention andshowing one 20 construction of tenter clip by which these advantageousresults may be accomplished.

With reference to the drawing, I0 designates the body of the tenter linkwhich is provided with the usual pivot ears II and I2 at its oppositeends 25 for connection to other similar links to form a chain'to travelthe rails of the machine.

The body of the link consists of a Xed jaw I3 at its front edge and anoverhanging back portion I4 providing spaced pivot bearings I5 through30 which the hinge or pivot pin I'I extends. Hingedly mounted upon thispivot pin is the swinging jaw or movable gate I8 having end bearings I9and central bearing 2l in the arm 2i). which bearings I9 and 2| arespaced to receive the pivot pin I1 35 to suitably mount the gate inposition. This arm 20 extends upwardly beyond the body and serves as anopener to be engaged by a portion of the tenter machine to swing thegate to open position.

The gate or movable jaw is also provided with the bifurcated extension22 having a roller 23 bridging its spaced arms at their outer ends to beengaged by the feeler member 24 pivoted as at 25 on a portion 26 xed onthe base I0. This feeler 45 24 is slotted as at 2l to receive the roller23 and control the dropping of the gate by its movement into the slot 29in the base in the usual and accustomed manner when the work or cloth 28is withdrawn from between the jaws.

It is often convenient to retain the gate in open position, particularlywhile the links of the chain are traveling back from one end of themachine to another in inoperative position, in order that the movablejaw will not rest upon the xed jaw and through chattering or vibrationof the machine wear the fixed jaw and provide an undesirable groovetherein; and to accomplish this I have provided an attachment having abody portion 3B, and side walls 3|, each of which are provided withopenings 32 at one end and openings 33 at the other end, both sets beingaligned for the reception of a pivot pin. This attachment is positionedupon the arm-.20 in such position that the pivot pin Il extends throughthe openings 3?. while the base 30 is riveted through opening 34.

to the gate by means of a pin 35', whereby the'- same is fixed to theswinging jaw. When clamped in this position the attachment extends at anangle to the opener arm 2`01and'provid'es'a pointY of pivotal attachmentfor a pawl or` latch member 35 which is pivoted by means of 4a pin 36extending through the openings 33- inl the attachment, and when in thisposition the end portion 31 of this pawl, which carries a roller 38,will drop by gravity' into engagement with the overhanging back I4 ofthedevice and will beheldY in one desired position of adjustment by therollengaging the abutment 39l providedy by the: insertion of a pin-.4&3yinto the overhanging back Hl` of, the link. When the latch is thuseng-aged with abutment 39 the gate or movable jaw` will be held out ofengagement with thefixed jaw,.as illustrated in Fig. 2, and it will beretained inf-this position until it moves about the machinev and thecloth is again positioned along the lower jaw, after which the pawl willbe engaged and suitably' moved downwardly by-a portion of themachineengaging a roll 4I mounted on the end 42 thereof to lifttheengaging end of this'pawlvv over the abutment 39and permit dropping oflthe gate intoengagement with the fabric.

In some instances where a back wall is not provided on the link anabutment surface 43 will bev formed by notching the edge as at 44 of oneof the overhanging portions of the body and by providing a modiedattachment 45 for mounting the pawl. In this casethe attachment ismounted adjacent the bearing' I9- and will be lockcdfthere: to and movewith the gate and will-` be: in such position that the pawlV mountedthereon will. engage this abutment and' hold the gate in the desiredopen position as it swings about'the pintle pin to-such openv position.

By these arrangementsthe swinging jaw of the clip is closed upon thework and there retained and is held out of engagement with the lower jawduring its return movement and thus materially increases the life ofthelink throughreductionv of wear. t

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the constructionillustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve theprivilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which -thedevice is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only bythe terms of the. appended claims.

I claimz- Y 1. A device for pivotally mounting a pawl on the gate of atenter clip comprisingl a body having side walls with openings therein.adjacent one end to receive the pivot pin of said gateand openingsadjacent the other end to pivotally mount a pawl. Y

2. A tenter clip having a stationary jaw and a cooperating swinging jaw,asupport movable in response to movement of the swinging jaw, a -xedcatch provided on the stationaryjaw and a latch pivotally mountedintermediate its end on said movable support to be positioned to engagesaid other end to receive the pivot pin of the swinging gate.

4.y A tenter clip having a stationary jaw' and a cooperating swingingjaw, a support movable in response tomovement of the swinging jaw, afixed catch provided on the stationary jaw and a latch pivotally mountedintermediate its end on said movable: support to be positioned to engagesaid catch when the swinging jaw is opened to hold said jaw in openposition, said body having a surface formedr to engage-a portion of thesurface of the swinging'jaw and be secured thereto.

5. A tenterI clip having a fixed jaw, a cooperating swinging jaw, amovable supportv onsaid swinging jaw, a catchy secured on said fixed jawandi a latch pivotally mounted on said movable support4 to engage saidcatch when the jaw is open to hold the jaw in such open position, theengaging surfaces of said latch and catch being such that pressure onthe swinging jaw will prevent their release, said latchk extending onthe opposite side of the pivot from saidv catch to be engaged forreleasing said latch.

6.A1tenter clip having a xed jaw, a cooperating swinging jaw, a fixedcatch provided on the xed jaw, a latch, and means pivoting said latchonthe-swinging jaw in such position as to cause one portion to move intoengagement with said catch when the jaw is open to hold the jaw in suchopen position, said latch extending on the 0pposite side of the pivotfrom said catch to be engaged for releasing said latchbyy a movementtowards the fixed jaw.

7. A tenter clip having a fixed jaw, a cooperating swinging jaw, a iixedabutment provided on said xed jaw, and a pawl pivoted on said swingingjaw in position to engage'said abutment and hold the swinging jaw inopen position, the engaging surfaces of said latch and catch being suchthat the pressure on the swinging jaw will prevent their release, saidpawl extending on the opposite side'of the pivot to be engaged torelease the pawl.

8. A tenter link comprising a xed jaw, an overhanging support, acooperating swinging `iaw pivote'd on said support, a stationaryprojecting pin on said support and a pawl pivotally mounted on saidswinging jaw to be positioned thereby to engage said pin and maintainthe swinging jaw in open position, the engaging surfaces of said latchand catch being such that pressure on the swinging jaw will preventtheir release, said pawl extending on the opposite side of the pivot ina position to be engaged to release the pawl.

9. A tenter link comprising a fixed jaw, an overhanging support, acooperating swinging jaw pivoted on said support, a stationary abutmenton said support and a pawl mounted on said swinging jaw to movetherewith and be positioned thereby to engage said stationary abutmentand maintain the swinging jaw in open position, said pawl having an armextending on the opposite side of the pivot, to be engaged by a portionof the tentering machine for releasing the pawl from engaging position.

10. A tenter link comprising a fixed jaw, anv Il overhanging support, acooperating swinging jaw pivoted on said support, a stationary abutmenton said support and a pawl mounted on said swinging jaw to movetherewith and be positioned thereby to engage said abutment and maintainthe swinging jaw in open position, said pawl having an arm extendingtherefrom, an anti-friction member provided on said arm to be engaged bya portion of the tentering machine for releasing the pawl from engagingposition.

11. A tenter link comprising a xed jaw, an overhanging support, acooperating swinging jaw pivoted on said support, a stationary abutmenton said support and a pawl mounted on said swinging jaw to be movedthereby and be positioned to engage said abutment and maintain theswinging jaw in open position, and an anti-friction member positioned onsaid pawl to engage said abutment, the engaging surfaces of said latchand catch being such that pressure on the swinging jaw will preventtheir release.

12. A tenter clip having a fixed jaw, a cooperating swinging jaw, a ixedabutment provided on said fixed jaw, an arm xedly attached on saidswinging jaw, and a pawl pivoted on said arm to move therewith to engagesaid abutment and hold the swinging jawI in open position, said pawlextending on the opposite side of the pivot to be engaged to release thepawl by a movement towards the fixed jaw.

13. A device for pivotally mounting a pawl on the gate of a tenter clipcomprising a body having a side wall to receive the pivot pin of thegate and a base plate at an angle thereto to extend along l5 and engagethe rear surface of the gate to mount the device in position on thegate.

FRANK A. LANE.

